Big Brother Thermostat?

[Lady Hiss]

Hi everyone -
I'm a new DVC owner at BCV, with our first stay planned for next month. I'm concerned about two things - finding time to launder & dry towels (sounds too much like home), AND having a cold room each night (way too much like home!) due to the motion detecting thermostat controls. Whose bright idea was this?? It's cold enough in Wisconsin, I will be VERY unhappy to have to deal with a cold room as we return from the parks each evening. The whole point of going to Florida is to get warm! I realize the weather can't be controlled, but I can't stand the idea not being able to control our room temp. Is there any way to disable this awful feature? They sure don't tell you about this in sales pitch. Thanks for any ideas.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... the possiblility of the room being too cold. The system actually works very well,you should have no problem at all with the temp being too cold.

 

[Granny]

It always bothers me a little when I read about people who will be making their first DVC trip and are worried about something they've read here on the boards.

Please remember that the people who post on these boards represent a very small percentage of the DVC owners. And that, like most humans, we tend to publish the negative and take the positive for granted.

My advice would be to try not to get stressed out about anything until you get to WDW. Then, if something's wrong you can address it there, and the CM's usually come through.

This is not taking shots at anyone who has posted their honest opinion on various subjects here. It just reminds me of the person who was worried that they had made a mistake buying into DVC based on a few threads that popped up about poor housekeeping and such.

I hope this comment is taken in the spirit it is intended...to allow you to not worry too much about your DVC accommodations. My guess is you will absolutely love them!

 

[Lady Hiss]

Thanks for the replies and reassurances. I read tfc3rid's post about their recent stay and it was mentioned that their BCV room was chilly. As I sat here, shivering, I became a little upset about the prospect of leaving one cold "house" for another. However, after reading the reply posts, I've decided it's best to keep an open mind and be optimistic that this was not the norm. I'll let you know! Thanks again for your replies. These boards have been wonderful for helping me with all aspects of the trip planning. Can't wait to see BCV next month!

 

[Disney Doll]

We have stayed in the BCV twice in the last 6 months (October 2002 and Janaury 2003) and didn't have any trouble with the room temp. The motion detector thermostat didn't seem to make anything any different than my stays at any other WDW resort, whether it was a DVC property or a regular hotel.

As far as washing towels...it wasn't any big deal either. I just threw them into the washing machine on the way out to the parks, and then threw them into the dryer before I went to bed. It takes literally 30 seconds of your time...barely worth even commenting on.

 

[lsutigger2]

About your laundry question - I found it easy to do each day. We'd gather up the towels and maybe undies for a load as we left for an outing and then throw them in the dryer when we returned later. Really convenient ! In fact my DH was a bit distraught that we're in a studio for our next trip and won't have the w/d in the room. BTW, laundry is the one chore I don't mind doing.

You're going to love your stay. Relax and enjoy it all!

 

[mrsdon]

We do the towels a bit different.
Threw them in at night befor bed and then in the am threw them in the dryer before I started breakfast.

 

[disney4me4ever]

Also being from Wisconsin, I can relate to your concern about the motion detecting thermometer. As the weather here has been bone chilling cold the past few weeks, I must confess that thought has crossed my mind once or twice, too.

I've busied myself with reading up on other areas of the Dis, such as the theme park board. I get so caught up in the excitement, the thermometer concern seems silly. Like Granny said, I think it is a very *few* people that post negative. Overall, most posts on this board are overwhelmingly positive.

Have a great trip!
Nancy

 

[cgcw]

Hmmm, I might have been one of the "negative" posts, although, that was not my intent. I posted that when we stayed at BCV in December we would turn the heat up at night because we were chilled in the morning when we got out of bed. It quickly became too warm in the room once the system turned on and the room warmed up.

So, yes, in our experience it did cool off during the night and unless someone was up and moving, it was chilly to us in the morning. Would it stop us from staying there in the future, no. Someone here on the boards will most likely figure out a way around it and some of us will use whatever trick they come up with. In the meantime, if someone wants to take that as a negative post, so be it. It was actually a reality to us.

 

[Regina]

I also was apprehensive after reading about it on the boards.

When we stayed at BVC last October, the room was a bit warm when we arrived, but it very quickly cooled off to a more comfortable temperature.

We had no problems with it staying cool during the night.

February is usually quite pleasant weather wise in FL. I hope that you also need the A/C and don't have to worry about heating the room.

 

[Lady Hiss]

Again, thanks to everyone for the thoughtful replies. You're right, of course, that towels and room temperature aren't worth getting worried about, especially given the national news lately.

After reading some of your ideas, we've come up with a plan or our family. As far as "Laundry Detail" - DD is going to be in charge of remembering to put the towels in each morning - a good job for a 13 year old. On any chilly mornings, DH will get up early and activate the thermostat! He'll probably be making a BW Bakery run anyway!

So, no worries here. Just happy anticipation for our first DVC experience!

Thank again, everyone!

 

[dcfromva]

We stayed in a 2BR unit Dec30-Jan3rd. Regarding the Washer/Dryer. They are very conveniently located and it is a snap to do laundry.

Regarding the temps. Weeeell, I found that the Master bedroom got a bit chilly in the afternoons--Otherwise, it was okay. (Like when taking a rest in the afternoon--reading a book--I had to get under the covers to stay warm). I didn't notice a problem at other times of the day. The other BR--at first it was too cold. The temp was set higher then, it was too warm. So, the temp was set lower... Well, it took a couple of adjustments and then it seemed fine. The LR/bathroom/dining room always seemed fine temperature wise.
-DC

 

[Terry S]

What these motion detector sensors do is turn off the heat or air (whichever is on) when they don't detect motion. So if it is cold outside your room my get a bit chilly without heat, if it is hot outside your room might get a bit warm. When we were there in October we would return to our room and it was a bit warm and stuffy in there, after about 5 minutes the room was fine. I didn't have any problems at all at night.

Just go and enjoy yourself, BCV is a wonderful place. I wish I could just live there all year round.

 

[Sims]

we were in room 409 a couple of weeks ago and it was very cold at night. When we stepped outside of our room our hall was very cold also. But when we walked by enough rooms to put us in another section of the building, the temp was noticibly warmer. I think our section of the building had problems with the heating system that have not yet been addressed. As for the room, the way the heating system worked seemed to be that it is programed to kick in the air conditioning at 71 degrees and the heat at 68 degrees. So when the heat got to 71, the air conditioner would put it back to 68, then the heat kicks it back up to 71 and so on. Setting the thermostat above 71 or below 68 didn't have any effect because of the programming.
The sliding doors to the patio were in the master bedroom and those doors had no insulation. The outside temps were in the twenties and thirties at night when we were there and the cold came right through those closed sliding doors, so much that you couldn't sit near them.
Between the heating/cooling system and the lack of door insulation, the rooms will be colder than you want in the winter and hotter than you want in the summer.
If you bring winter pjs and use the blanket, you should be OK.

 

[sgtdisney]

We had lots of trouble regulating our room at OKW last July. They had new thermostats there then, I don't know if the motion sensors were installed but I will tell you that no matter what the thermostat was set at, the room was hot when we got into it and it ended up being warm at night. I, personally, like to sleep (especially in the summer) in a cool room. I suppose you could say the system works very well if you are the kind of person who turns your furnace down in the winter when you sleep and turns the a/c up in the summer... I keep my set between 71 to 73 all year.

I can fully understand why Disney would like to cut our electrical costs, but I am not happy waking up every night because it is too warm in the room. Maybe Disney should monitor electrical usage in the room, because I personally would rather pay an extra 15.00 when I go to check out because I used 'extra' electricity, than to suffer with a room that is too warm (or cold for that matter.) I didn't pay what I paid to stay in a luxury resort to have the management regulate what temperature the room is when I sleep.

That being said, go down to WDW with an open mind and don't worry about the thermostat. If it is too cold, complain to the resort manager. If enough people complain (if it is in fact too warm or cold) then maybe they will find another system that works a little better. And maybe the room will be just perfect for you. They may have worked the bugs out of this recently...

 

[dcfromva]

sgtdisney
I was wondering if they had installed that same system at OKW because I had a problem with it being too hot at night in November when we stayed there. We stayed for 2 nights in a 2BR unit. I can't sleep if it is too hot, so I was really restless at night. Since we were there for such a short time, I didn't mess with thermostat.

I probably should have pursued it because you are right, if people don't say anything, they won't get it fixed.


-DC

 

[AKemel]

We stayed at BCV in October. During the day it took about five minutes to cool off the room so I did not think it was a problem. At night however, it would get too hot and I would wake up. I found that unacceptable and will not be going back there again. The old fashion thermostat like the one at the BWV is much better.

 

[bcvillastwo]

We were home at BCVs in mid September and then again in mid December and we had the same experiences that most everyone else is talking about. While there were times when it was more cool or warm than what we may have liked overall the BCV experience was just right for us (for so many reasons).

I wonder how many people have these same kind of "too hot/too cool" experiences when they are at work, in malls, in church, or when staying in other places while traveling, or perhaps even at home. I can say, as one who travels frequently for a living, has a job in an office building etc. that the temp is almost never what I prefer. So while I appreciate all of the concerns I wonder sometimes if maybe we aren't being a little to picky.

Just a thought.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by bcvillastwo

I wonder how many people have these same kind of "too hot/too cool" experiences when they are at work, in malls, in church, or when staying in other places while traveling, or perhaps even at home

There are plenty of times when I don't feel comfortable due to the temperature. While at work, I ask them to adjust the temperature and they usually do. However at work, in malls or church I am not paying money to be there. I understand what you are saying here and you are right, a person cannot be comfortable 100% of the time. However, I consider the DVC to be an extension of my home. I have paid good money to be there in one form or another and I honestly feel I have a right to be comfortable in my own home.

 

[Candace]

Where is this motion sensor located at BCV? We were there 10 days ago and I did not notice anything different about the temp. It was good and warm when we checked in, which was great, because it was in the 30's that day. Nights were comfortable, and I looked for the sensor but never could decide where it was. Can someone tell me? There was one thing odd, however. There was some kind of outlet thing (but not an electrical plug-in) over the refrigerator, and someone had put masking tape across it. You could see open line-spaces under the tape. This wasn't a sensor, was it? I could never see a sensor in the bedroom either (we were in a one bedroom). Oh, we also had lots of hot water and good water pressure. We were in 465.